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Two moments of stoppage-time madness helped Arsenal return to the Premier League summit, although they were certainly aided by a misfiring Manchester City.
An England star’s absurd goalscoring return since the World Cup continues to help Manchester United’s top four surge while two wins in two for Liverpool has their fans believing once again.
Catch up on the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
Son on scoresheet as Spurs do Hammers | 00:55
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GUNNERS SHOW CHAMPION MENTALITY IN FIVE-MINUTE MADNESS
As if losing to Manchester City just 63 hours earlier wasn’t bad enough, Arsenal found themselves on the ropes again at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side trailed to Ollie Watkins’ opener, equalised through Bukayo Saka, then fell behind again to Philippe Coutinho’s strike.
With their title dreams starting to fade, Arsenal proved they have the character needed to cope with the strain of slugging it out with serial winners City.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, lured from City in the close-season, blasted Arsenal level before an incredible denouement.
Deep into stoppage-time, Jorginho’s shot hit the bar and cannoned back into play before striking Villa’s former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez on the head and rebounding into the net for an own goal.
Arteta and his players celebrated with abandon and Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up a crucial victory with virtually the last kick.
Arsenal’s first win in five games in all competitions gave them renewed belief that a first title since 2004 is still on the cards.
“I think the last five minutes tell me how much we want it and that we have the quality, the unity and the belief that we can do it,” Arteta said.
“When we have clarity and intentions and we raise the level we can beat anybody and they’ve done it.”
Arsenal back on top after downing Villa | 00:58
LIVERPOOL STAR BECOMING ‘UNDROPPABLE’ AMID TOP FOUR CHARGE
After failing to register a win in 2023, it was all doom and gloom at Anfield.
But now, the mood has certainly lifted at Liverpool after two wins in two games.
Critics may have pointed out that a Merseyside Derby triumph over Everton came against a side mired in a fight for survival, but there was nothing to dispute about the win over Newcastle.
Two goals in seven minutes was all it took for Jurgen Klopp’s side to take the advantage over Newcastle at St. James Park, although the hosts did themselves no favours when Nick Pope was sent off for handling the ball outside the box.
With the 2-0 win, Liverpool handed Newcastle their first loss at home and just their second league defeat all season long.
Ironically, it was the Reds who gave the Magpies their only two league defeats although they had a late, late winner from Fabio Carvalho to thank for the first win.
This time around, it was the Darwin Nunez show.
The Uruguayan has struggled at various times this season, whether that be the various missed chances or a red card in one of his very first games since moving in a $A112m deal from Benfica in the summer.
His goal return in the Premier League also hasn’t quite been what Liverpool had hoped for given the large fee, with just six goals to his name so far.
But his strike against Newcastle, according to The Athletic’s Caoimhe O’Neill, “might well be his most important” and indicate Nunez may finally be turning a corner.
“It was a composed finish from Nunez, who looks like he is coming into his best form so far this season, and his timing could not be better with a top four race now alive and Real Madrid to come in the Champions League,” O’Neill wrote.
O’Neill also described the Uruguayan sharpshooter as “becoming an undroppable figure in Liverpool’s attack.”
With Liverpool now back in the hunt for a top four spot and Nunez firing, we can’t discount Klopp’s side just yet.
CITY BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH AS WAYWARD ATTACK EXPOSED
Manchester City’s brief spell at the top came to a frustrating end as Chris Wood’s 84th minute equaliser punished the champions for a series of missed chances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Pep Guardiola’s side had knocked Arsenal off top spot with a 3-1 win in north London on Wednesday and, although the Gunners had reclaimed pole position with their win at Aston Villa, City would have finished the weekend in first place if they had beaten Forest.
They were on course to do just that when Bernardo Silva fired them ahead in the 40th minute.
But Erling Haaland hit the bar and blazed the rebound over before missing another golden opportunity as City stumbled.
Although they are now two points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand, City defender Kyle Walker warned the Gunners that his team will not give up on a fifth title in six seasons.
“We’re not down and we’re not out, we’ll keep going and keep fighting until the very end and put this down as a blip,” he said.
“It’s not ideal trailing Arsenal. We just need to make sure that these performances don’t happen again, we finish our chances and defend well as a team, and we stick together.”
Forrest stun City with late equaliser | 01:05
ENGLAND STAR’S ABSURD FORM SPARKS RED DEVILS FORM
Marcus Rashford is spearheading Manchester United’s bid to win a first piece of silverware since 2017.
United forward Rashford scored twice in Sunday’s 3-0 win against Leicester at Old Trafford, lifting his third placed side to within five points of Arsenal.
Rashford has scored 24 times in all competitions for United this season, the highest goal tally he has ever managed in a single campaign.
Remarkably, 16 of those goals have come in 17 appearances since he returned from the World Cup in December.
“It’s a nice feeling to be scoring goals and ultimately winning games,” Rashford said.
“There’s always something to push for and look forward to. I don’t feel like slowing down, I’m just trying to improve.”
Rashford will be the key for United in a pivotal week featuring the League Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday and the second leg of the Europa League knockout play-off against Barcelona on Thursday, with the tie balanced at 2-2.
